Clifford Ramsey Lovin
August 14, 1937 ~ August 16, 2015
Resided in:
Swannanoa, NC
Dr. Clifford Ramsey Lovin, 78, of Swannanoa, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2015, at his residence.
A native of Buncombe County, he was the son of the late Rev. Carl and Lois Lovin. Dr. Lovin was a Professor of History at Western Carolina University and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of Groce United Methodist Church.
Surviving is his wife of 24 years, Barbara Keelor Lovin; son, C. Ramsey Lovin, Jr.; three daughters, April Lovin-Cain, Mary Beth Lovin and Sarah
Lovin Fitzgerald; six grandchildren, Nathan and Jacob Lovin, Nora, Lois, and Ingrid Fitzgerald, and William Greenhill;and two sisters, Esther Mullinax and Cathey Byrd.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11:00 A.M. at Groce UMC with Rev. Gerald Davis officiating.
The family will receive friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Prostate Cancer Foundation, Gifts Processing Center,
P.O. Box 7015, Albert Lea, MN 56007-8015.
Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road is assisting
the family.
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Our thoughts & prayers are with Esther & Paul and the entire family. God Bless.
I’m very sorry to hear about Cliff’s passing. I wish peace for his family.
We have lost dearly. Dr. Lovin was a wonderful educator and an able administrator at WCU. I remember him as a kind man who encouraged students to strive to do and be their best. I am saddened to hear of his passing. His family are in my thoughts and prayers during this sad and difficult time. May the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, grant you peace and encouragement as you grieve for someone who was well-loved by all who knew him.
I’m so sorry Dr. Lovin. There are no words. You will surely be in my prayers. Lots of love.
Barbara, Dr. Lovin,
I am so sorry that Cliff has passed away. I can still remember the stories you would share with us in class. I realize no words can make things better. Please know that Amy and I have you in our thoughts and prayers.
We love you!
April, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad. Words always seem inadequate during this time. Please know you and your entire family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Bob and I are so sorry to hear of Cliff’s death. I have many good memories of the classes I took under Cliff when I worked on my graduate degree in history. He was a wonderful professor and a good friend. Our children grew up together in Cullowhee. We will miss him so much and send our sincere sympathy to Barbara and the Lovin children.
April, Ramsey, Marybeth…..So sorry to hear of your dad’s death. You all are in our prayers!
Dr. [Barbara] Lovin, I am so sorry for your loss. Although I only met him once he certainly left a great impression. You are in my thoughts.
Blessings to you all during this time.
My deepest sympathy to all of Cliff’s family. I have fond memories of working with him years ago on several committees. He was such a wonderful person to work with.
I am so sorry for your loss. Your family is in my prayers and thoughts.
Barbara, Jack and I send our condolences. Thinking of you.
Cliff was a special person. He contributed his time and energy towards making WCU a better place for students, faculty, and staff, especially in the 1970s. He left a mark on many of us that defies erasure. Rest in peace, Cliff.
Dear Barbara,
We are saddened to learn of Cliff’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers
are with you at this difficult time. We hope to see you Saturday morning.
Dr. Lovin was one if my favorite teachers. I am sorry and you have my prayers
We are saddened to hear of Cliff’s death. As my Dean I remember him as always willing to listen and of course as a very attractive man. He often sat next to my husband when they played cards in Cullowhee. We had thought he might make it to Florida in retirement but he chose to remain in the mountains. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Barbara, I haven’t seen you in years, I will keep you and your family in the light.
John
Barbara, I am sorry to hear of your husbands passing. Prayers for you and your family.
To the entire family of Professor Lovin. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love to each and every one of you. Hugs and kisses, Ms. April! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
We are so sorry for your loss. Mr. Lovin was a very nice and kind hearted gentleman. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. May God give you strength, peace and comfort during this very difficult time.
Thanks to Cliff, the late ’80’s/early 90’s was for many of us a ‘golden Age’ in our academic lives. His leadership and wisdom helped to contribute to a period in WCU’s history when faculty/staff morale was at its zenith. We are indeed fortunate to have ‘shared the path’ with this wonderful man…and become better for it. Jeff and Randi Neff
Our prayers go out to Barbara and her family. We are sorry to hear of Clifford’s passing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time. We have fond memories of Cliff and his family when they were in Cullowhee.
Love, Jim and Gloria Wallace
I was a student at WCU from 1967 – 1971 and was privileged to have Dr. Lovin for both US & World history. He was a wonderful instructor and a great mentor for his students. He was always encouraging and supportive, while pushing you to be your best. He was one of my very favorite professors, and I will always have a special place in my heart for him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time.
So very sorry to read about Cliff’s passing. He was always so pleasant and cheerful back in the days at WCU. Glenn and Barbara Hardesty (also residents here at Givens Estates) send their regards as well.
The world is a poorer place without ‘Uncle Cliff.’ He was always one of our family’s favorite people, and he was a scholarly inspiration for me. Barbara, Ramsey, April, Mary Beth, and Sarah, you are in my thoughts. Please take good care of yourselves in this hard time.
Barbara and Sarah, you have had a personal loss. I admired Cliff very much and always found him cheerful and receptive. He was a wonderful leader and did the university a great service with the self-study after much stress and confusion in the administration. I’ve not seen any of you since he retired, but I picture you happy and gracious. May you and the rest of the family be so again as this breach heals.
Barbara, we were saddened to hear of Cliff’s passing. He was wonderful to work with as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, always receptive to ways to move the institution forward, and was an excellent role model for students.
You and the family are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
It is with great sadness to learn that Cliff has passed away. He was a one of the ‘good’ guys to work with at Western. He was cheerful and kind and always had a smile. Al and Lynda McNeely
Our prayer is that you feel the love of God through the prayers, thoughts and love, from the hearts of those who care and share in your time of sorrow.
Praying that Our Heavenly Father will comfort your heart and bring peace to your spirit during this difficult time.
With heartfelt sympathy, Southern Wesleyan University’s Staff Council